What are the best ways to make international phone calls from Thailand without incurring high roaming costs?

International Phone Calls Communication Tips SIM Cards in Thailand VoIP Services Data and Calling Plans Expat Life in Thailand Mobile Providers Cost-saving Strategies

Jan 4, 2025

3 days ago

Ross ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

About to go to Thailand soon on my DTV and will work a bit while there. My question is to those already in LOS with DTV. I will be spending around 4 hours a week or more on phone calls to and from Australia with work and I was wondering what do people do in this situation to reduce their phone bill? As I definitely need to make these phone calls and also need some data, the only option I know of so far to do this is using international roaming on my Aus provider, but it will cost me $5 per day, albeit tax deductible. I know I can get a Thai sim card, but I believe they wont cover me for my international phone calls and will only include data. Any suggestions in how to avoid $5 per day international roaming so I can make the required international phone calls? TIA

Update: I forgot to mention that some of the people l call don't have access to wifi calling, so l am not talking about making calls via Skype etc.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post discusses ways to reduce phone bills while making international calls to Australia from Thailand on a DTV visa. The author is considering options to avoid $5 per day international roaming charges and seeks advice from others in Thailand. Responses suggest various strategies: using local SIM cards, VoIP services like Skype and Fongo, Wi-Fi calling to avoid extra charges, and specific mobile providers offering competitive rates for international calls. The conversation highlights the preference for reliable and cost-effective solutions among expats.

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Nin *****

I’ve called mobile phones off Skype and landlines, and helplines I don’t think they need wifi calling

2 days ago

Geoff ********

We changed our Australia provider to Amaysim and buy their international package which has phone calls and data included, works very well.

Good luck with both the phone and AFL.😜

2 days ago

Luna *******

We just moved here . Both remote workers . We got AIS phones with unlimited everything . So we use that for communicating . As well as Facebook messenger .

2 days ago

Kaitlyn *********

I run 2 businesses in Canada and I use a program called open phone, works anywhere in the world. I would look into it as it may be an option that works for you

2 days ago

Marc **********

I use my Google voice number since it uses data and I'm mostly on wifi. Not sure if numbers are still available but it's great...text too!

2 days ago

Georgijus ************

You can use voip same price no matter where you are. Something like

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2 days ago

Michi ********

I use Fongo, more reliable than Skype as Skype kept ok dropping my calls.

You can get a text option too.

2 days ago

Rok ********

I always use Skype for mobile and landline numbers; price per minute crazy cheap. Of course still get a local sim as data usually more stable than any wifi.